Monday, July 16, 2007

Dead Hearts Leading to..The Dead Nation!

With the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
All praise is for Allah, the Most High, the Lord of the Worlds. And May Peace be upon His Prophets and His Angels. May Allah's blessings be upon our Holy Prophet, Muhammad (sallallaho 'alaihi wasallam).





"Dead Hearts Leading to... The Dead Nation!"

"... Allah never changes the condition of a people until they intend to change it themselves.. ." [Al-Quran 13:11]





"Only he whom Allah guides is rightly guided; and whom He confounds will become the losers. Certainly, We have destined many Jinns and human beings for hell; those are the ones who have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, they have ears with which they do not hear. They are like animals - or even worse than them , because they are those who are heedless." al-Quran [7:178-179]





ÇÞÊÑÈ ááäÇÓ ÍÓÇÈåã æåã Ýí ÛÝáÉ ãÚÑÖæä ¤ ãÇíÇÊíåã ãä ÐßÑ ãä ÑÈåã ãÍÏË ÇáÇ ÇÓÊãÚæå æåã íáÚÈæä ¤ áÇåíÉ ÞáæÈåã æÇÓÑæÇ ÇáäÌæì ÇáÐíä ÙáãæÇ åá åÐÇ ÇáÇ ÈÔÑ ãËáßã ÇÝÊÇÊæä ÇáÓÍÑ æÇäÊã ÊÈÕÑæä

* The Day of Accountability for mankind is getting closer and closer, yet they are heedless and are turning away from the admonition. ¤ They listen with ridicule to each fresh warning that comes to them from their Lord and remain engaged in the sports. ¤ Their hearts are preoccupied with worldly affairs; these wrongdoers say to each other in private: "Is this man (Muhammad) not a human being like yourselves? Would you follow witchcraft with your eyes open?" (Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ ÇáÃäÈíÇÁ (Anbiyaa) - 21:1-3] translated by Malik)



æÐßÑ ÝÇä ÇáÐßÑì ÊäÝÚ ÇáãÄãäíä

* But keep on admonishing them, for admonition is beneficial to the true believers. (Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ ÇáÐÇÑíÇÊ (Zaariyaat) - 51:55])





æáÞÏ ÈÚËäÇ Ýí ßá ÇãÉ ÑÓæáÇ Çä ÇÚÈÏæÇ Çááå æÇÌÊäÈæÇ ÇáØÇÛæÊ Ýãäåã ãä åÏì Çááå æãäåã ãä ÍÞÊ Úáíå ÇáÖáÇáÉ ÝÓíÑæÇ Ýí ÇáÇÑÖ ÝÇäÙÑæÇ ßíÝ ßÇä ÚÇÞÈÉ ÇáãßÐÈíä

* No doubt We raised in every nation a Messenger, saying: "Serve Allah and keep away from Taghut (Satanic forces)." After that, Allah guided some of them while deviation proved true against the others. So travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who denied Our Message. [ ÓæÑÉ ÇáäÍá (Nahl) - 16:36]



Abu Dharr (RA) reported:

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "He has been successful whose heart Allah has made sincere towards faith, whose heart He has made free from unbelief, his tongue truthful, his soul calm, his nature straight, whose ear He has made attentive and his eye observant. The ear is a funnel and the eye is a repository for what the heart learns. He is successful whose heart is made retentive."

Ahmad and Bayhaqi, is Shu'ab al-Iman, transmitted it. [al Tirmidhi - 5200]




My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Assalamu 'alalikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,



Before we continue with our subject any further, let us ask for forgiveness from Allah and repent to him. Clean water is used to clean our bodies, sincere repentance purifies the hearts. The Prophet (sallallaho 'alaihi wasallam) himself used to repent over seventy times a day. Actually, repentance removes the arrogance from our heart and lightens our soul, and remember that Iblis (devil) was reluctant to seek forgiveness from Allah for his disobedience whereas, Prophet Adam and his wife (peace be upon them both) repented and got the forgiveness from Allahu Ta'aala.

Abu Hurayrah narrated:
I heard Allah's Apostle saying." By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day. (Sahih Bukhari 008_075_319)

Abu Hurayrah narrated:
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "When a believer sins there is a black spot on his heart, and if he repents and asks pardon his heart is polished; but if he does more it increases till it gains the ascendancy over his heart. That is the rust mentioned by Allah Most High, 'Nay, but what they were committing has spread like rust over their hearts'." [al Tirmidhi - 2337]



It has not been so long that the majority of the Muslim world was suffering from the Colonial / Imperial powers. Now we consider ourselves to be 'free', but still we see the Muslim World suffering from the tyrant and cruel men (puppets could be a closer title for them).

It is not only the case of the Muslim World, but even in the Non-Muslim countries we see that the general-public is being abused in one-way or the other. It is so much astonishing that in the days of 'Democracy' we find that the majority of the people in the world don't like the indecencies, wars and other selfish motives that their nations are running; yet things are going as if the public is sleeping in their own imaginative world of false stories. We can observe that those among the rich ones are being intoxicated by their worldly lust and domestic problems, and those among the poor ones are left in the hands of poverty, deaths and humiliation. These traps actually isolates the general public from the national and international affairs; "Do not worry about how we run this country (and the others), you just go and watch the new movies..".

When our minds are being controlled by some agencies, we are following our silly desires and we can do nothing except suffering and criticizing each others, it means we need to free ourselves... from the influences and controls of the Shayyateen (devils among the Jinns) and Taghut (devils among the Men) and take our responsibilities according to our Deen and not according to our desires. Insha'Allah, then shall we see how quickly Allah, our Creator, responds to us with His help and then shall we see the broadness of those blessings that are given to us, but we have forgotten it soon after our birth.



Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ ÇáÌÇËíÉ (Jaathiyah) - 45:23]

ÇÝÑÁíÊ ãä ÇÊÎÐ Çáåå åæÇå æÇÖáå Çááå Úáì Úáã æÎÊã Úáì ÓãÚå æÞáÈå æÌÚá Úáì ÈÕÑå ÛÔÇæÉ Ýãä íåÏíå ãä ÈÚÏ Çááå ÇÝáÇ ÊÐßÑæä

* Have you considered the case of such an individual who has made his own desires as his god, and Allah having knowledge let him go astray, and sealed his hearing and heart and drew a veil over his sight? Who is there to guide him after Allah has withdrawn His guidance? Will you not learn a lesson?



Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ ãÍãÏ (Muhammed) - 47:36]

ÇäãÇ ÇáÍíÇÉ ÇáÏäíÇ áÚÈ æáåæ æÇä ÊÄãäæÇ æÊÊÞæÇ íÄÊßã ÇÌæÑßã æáÇíÓÃáßã ÇãæÇáßã

* The life of this world is but a play and amusement. If you believe and follow the way of piety, He will grant you your rewards and will not ask you to give up your possessions.



Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ ÇáäÍá (Nahl) - 16:36]

æáÞÏ ÈÚËäÇ Ýí ßá ÇãÉ ÑÓæáÇ Çä ÇÚÈÏæÇ Çááå æÇÌÊäÈæÇ ÇáØÇÛæÊ Ýãäåã ãä åÏì Çááå æãäåã ãä ÍÞÊ Úáíå ÇáÖáÇáÉ ÝÓíÑæÇ Ýí ÇáÇÑÖ ÝÇäÙÑæÇ ßíÝ ßÇä ÚÇÞÈÉ ÇáãßÐÈíä

* No doubt We raised in every nation a Messenger, saying: "Serve Allah and keep away from Taghut (Satanic forces)." After that, Allah guided some of them while deviation proved true against the others. So travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who denied Our Message.



It is so much insane that the majority of the representatives, leaders and ministers of the Muslim nations are the most indiscipline, intoxicated by the worldly desires, inhumane and most importantly illiterate of the teachings of Islam; yet we have made them OUR representatives; they are representing the MUSLIMS and thus Islam! Our 'Muslim' leaders are more concerned to their seats/positions in the Parliament than about Islam & general public (especially poor ones). Since we have selected them our representatives, we are to be blamed for such disastrous decisions and we are to be blamed for neglecting our responsibilities as a Muslim (citizen) and ignoring Islam in our lives.



Ziyad ibn Hudayr narrated:

Umar said to me: Do you know what demolishes Islam? I said: No. Whereupon he said: It is the slip of a scholar and the dispute of the hypocrite by the Book, and the commands of the misguided rulers which demolish it.
Transmitted by Darimi. [al Tirmidhi - 269]



Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al As narrated:

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "Allah does not take away the knowledge, by taking it away from (the hearts of) the people, but takes it away by the death of the religious learned men till when none of the (religious learned men) remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when consulted will give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray. [Sahih Bukhari - 001_003_100] .



It his been narrated through a different chain of transmitters, on the authority of Hudhaifa b. al-Yaman who said: Messenger of Allah, no doubt, we had an evil time (i. e. the days of Jahiliyya or ignorance) and God brought us a good time (i. e. Islamic period) through which we are now living Will there be a bad time after this good time? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes. I said: Will there be a good time after this bad time? He said: Yes. I said: Will there be a bad time after good time? He said:Yes. I said: How? Whereupon he said: There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who will not adopt my ways? There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings. I said: What should I do. Messenger of Allah, if I (happen) to live in that time? He replied: You will listen to the Amir and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey. [Sahih Muslim - 020_4554]



We have been blessed with the best Deen, Al-Islam, that tells us how to live our lives. So often we hear "Islam is the way of life", but when it comes to our national policies, judicial system, financial system, educational system, even general humanity etc, we shut our eyes from Islam and pretend (or wish) that Islam is only limited to the Masjid, Ramadan and Hajj, khalas! We need to educate ourselves and our children, as I have positive expectations from our next generation, insha'Allah. The following Ayaat are very important for us to realize the general public's effects on the Nation.



Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ ÇáÃäÝÇá (Anfaal) - 8:53]

Ðáß ÈÇä Çááå áã íß ãÛíÑÇ äÚãÉ ÇäÚãåÇ Úáì Þæã ÍÊì íÛíÑæÇ ãÇÈÇäÝÓåã æÇä Çááå ÓãíÚ Úáíã

* ... Allah has never changed the blessings which He has bestowed on a people (Qawm) until they themselves changed the condition of their souls; verily Allah hears all and knows all.





Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ ÇáÑÚÏ (Ra'd) - 13:11]

áå ãÚÞÈÇÊ ãä Èíä íÏíå æãä ÎáÝå íÍÝÙæäå ãä ÇãÑ Çááå Çä Çááå áÇíÛíÑ ãÇÈÞæã ÍÊì íÛíÑæÇ ãÇÈÇäÝÓåã æÇÐÇ ÇÑÇÏ Çááå ÈÞæã ÓæÁÇ ÝáÇ ãÑÏ áå æãÇáåã ãä Ïæäå ãä æÇá

* .. Allah never changes the condition of a people until they intend to change it themselves. If Allah wants to afflict a people with misfortune, none can ward it off, nor they can find any protector besides Him.



In the light of the above ayaat, we realise that every society is made up of people, and people are resembled by what is in their hearts. This means that if the Muslims change their goals and their ways of life then their society will be changed automatically, with the help of Allah. HOWEVER, if the people in a society have DEAD HEARTS, the whole society can be considered dead and such corpses are later buried (quite like the Qawme-Lut/people of Lut (Sodom & Gomorrah)).



We shall apparently leave this topic to where it is left. Insha' Allah Ta'aala soon, we shall extend it and explore some of the properties and requirements of an ALIVE, BRIGHT, SOFT and PURE HEART, in hope that we will try to implement such marvellous qualities (of Qalbin Saleem - Health heart) and in hope to brighten our surroundings.



Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ ÇáÒãÑ (Zumar) - 39:17-18]

æÇáÐíä ÇÌÊäÈæÇ ÇáØÇÛæÊ Çä íÚÈÏæåÇ æÇäÇÈæÇ Çáì Çááå áåã ÇáÈÔÑì ÝÈÔÑ ÚÈÇÏ ¤ ÇáÐíä íÓÊãÚæä ÇáÞæá ÝíÊÈÚæä ÇÍÓäå ÇæáÆß ÇáÐíä åÏÇåã Çááå æÇæáÆß åã ÇæáæÇ ÇáÇáÈÇÈ

* As for those who refrain from worshipping Taghut (Satanic forces) and turn to Allah in repentance, there is good news. So O Prophet, give good news to My servants ¤ who listen to the Word and follow the best meaning of it. Such are the ones whom Allah has guided and such are the ones who are endowed with understanding.



Al-Quran [ ÓæÑÉ Âá ÚãÑÇä (Aal-e-Imran) - 3:8]

ÑÈäÇ áÇÊÒÛ ÞáæÈäÇ ÈÚÏ ÇÐ åÏíÊäÇ æåÈ áäÇ ãä áÏäß ÑÍãÉ Çäß ÇäÊ ÇáæåÇÈ

* "Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate from the truth after you have guided us, and grant us Your own mercy; You are the Grantor of bounties without measure.¤





Abu Hurayrah narrated:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_ him) used to say: "O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from four things: Knowledge which does not profit, a heart which is not submissive, a soul which has an insatiable appetite, and a supplication which is not heard." [Abu Dawud - 008_1543]


Anas ibn Malik narrated:

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say quite frequently: O Turner of the heart, keep me steadfast in your religion. I said: Allah's Apostle, we do affirm faith in you and in that which you have been sent with. (Despite this) you entertain fear about us. Whereupon he said: Yes. Verily the hearts are between two Fingers from the Fingers of Allah and He turns them as He likes.
Transmitted by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.





"Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Honor, He is free from what they ascribe to Him!
Peace be on the Messengers, and praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds." Al-Quran [37:180-182]





wa Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatu Allah,

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